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Monthly Archives: June 2009

UPDATE, July 1: We’ve confirmed that Beatty has not signed scholarship papers or any other commitment documents. That appears likely to happen, but sources close to the program indicate there are “issues” that have to be resolved. That’s where it stands for the time being.

JUNE 30: If James Beatty committed to Rutgers today, the junior college point guard might want to tell somebody at the school.

Multiple internet reports—first from the website JucoJunction.com, then zagsblog.com—quoted Miami Dade College coach Matt Eisele as saying that the 6-foot-2 Beatty had decided on Rutgers.

But we have been unable to confirm that commitment with anyone on the Rutgers side. A phone call to Beatty was disconnected when the subject of his commitment came up, and subsequent calls were not answered.

Rutgers would have to receive signed scholarship papers for Beatty’s commitment to become official, and it appears as though that did not happen today.

Stay tuned.

STEPHENSON FINDS A LANDING PAD: Looks like someone (Cincinnati) agreed to take talented but troubled New York City star Lance Stephenson after all: Sweepstakes finally over

HOOPS HAVEN SAYS: Oh, the hypocrisy. Cincy runs out Bob Huggins for being too shady, then welcomes a recruit with more baggage than JFK Airport. Perhaps the worst (or is it best?) part of this clown-show is the source close to the program who shrugs off the groping charge as no big deal. Will the Bearcats be NCAA-caliber good if Stephenson a) is not ruled ineligible by the NCAA and b) doesn’t self-destruct? Yes.

Fuquan Edwin, a 6-foot-6 rising senior at Paterson Catholic High School, became the first recruit to commit to Seton Hall’s 2010-2011 recruiting class Thursday afternoon.

The 190-pound small forward, who made an official visit to the South Orange campus, had narrowed his decision to Seton Hall and Providence in recent weeks. He will join former teammate Jordan Theodore on the Pirates’ roster.

Edwin averaged 16.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game for Paterson Catholic, which posted a record of 26-5 and ended up ranked No. 2 in New Jersey by NJ Hoops newsletter. Jay Gomes also put Edwin on second team All-State.

ON THE HIGH SCHOOL FRONT: After a year off, former Bridgewater skipper Tim Ortelli was hired as the new head coach at Franklin High School on Wednesday night. Here’s the story from mycentraljersey.com: Look who’s back in coaching?

HOOPS HAVEN SAYS: This will send shock waves in a couple of different directions. We’ve been hearing grumblings from the folks in Bridgewater for two weeks now, but hey, things change sometimes. The rest of the Skyland coaches realize the league just got a good deal tougher. If anyone can awake this sleeping giant of a program, it’s Ortelli.

That said, success will not come automatically. Ortelli’s winning formula—a hard-driving personality mixed with deliberate, precision basketball—was honed with Bridgewater kids; Franklin might require the veteran coach to tweak his approach a bit in both regards. An added challenge: He will continue to teach at Bridgewater-Raritan. It’s easier to run the ship from inside the building, but JV coach Kerry Foderingham will be Ortelli’s eyes and ears there.

Lastly, it’s unfortunate to see that Joe Whalen didn’t get a fair shot at coaching the Warriors. He’s a good guy with a fine resume. But the Ortelli era has begun, and there won’t be a dull moment.

Here is my column from the Gannett New Jersey papers about Rutgers All-American Epiphanny Prince foregoing her senior year to play professionally overseas: BAD FOR THE SPORT

Former Seton Hall defensive ace Paul Gause has been drafted by the fledgling UFL and intends to sign with the Las Vegas team. Here are the details as reported by J.P. Pelzman: Gause going back to the gridiron

The Associated Press had a wide-ranging interview with Rutgers AD Tim Pernetti, touching on the much-needed renovations to the RAC and (barely) this idea of Rutgers joining the Big Ten: RAC development plan expected to be out soon. HOOPS HAVEN SAYS: It’s a grand idea, and grand ideas cost lots of money. Where is the money coming from?

Very interesting column on SI.com about the pitfalls of Epiphanny Prince’s decision to leave the Rutgers women for a pro contact in Europe: Agent: Prince got some baaaaaaad advice. HOOPS HAVEN SAYS: My Sunday column in the Gannett New Jersey papers will address this at length.

We know it’s early, but now that Luke Harangody and Scottie Reynolds are returning and just about everyone else is in place, here is our first look at how the Big East might shape up in the 2009-10 campaign.

1. WEST VIRGINIA

Reason for optimism: This team has everything. Explosive lead guard? Check. Rugged big man? Check. A matchup nightmare wing? Check. Depth and experience? Check and check.

Reason for pessimism: That explosive lead guard, Joe Mazzulla, is suspended indefinitely after a couple of run-ins with the law. He’ll have to stay on the straight and narrow for this club to realize its potential.

Hoops Haven’s early line: Final Four contender.

2. VILLANOVA

Reason for optimism: Scottie Reynolds is coming back, and so is the rest of the Cats’ dynamic four-man backcourt. They’ll be joined by a blockbuster recruiting class and Duke transfer Taylor King. Lots of momentum after last year’s Final Four appearance.

Reason for pessimism: A good deal of leadership and toughness left the building with the senior class. The chemistry will be delicate, but Jay Wright is savvy enough to make it work.

Hoops Haven’s early line: Final Four contender.

3. LOUISVILLE

Reason for optimism: Four of the top seven are back. Rick Pitino has a lot of bodies to choose from, you figure he’ll find a way to make it work. Having Ralph Willard as a right-hand man will only help.

Reason for pessimism: There are two huge holes in the frontcourt with Terrence Williams and Earl Clark moving on.

Hoops Haven’s early line: They’ll be back in the Dance with room to spare.

4. CONNECTICUT

Reason for optimism: Kemba Walker is a star-in-the-making, and we’re high on the potential of Gavin Edwards. A couple of talented big men are incoming.

Reason for pessimism: Will Jerome Dyson’s knee hold up? Will Jim Calhoun’s health? Will the NCAA drop an elbow on the program?

Hoops Haven’s early line: NCAA Tournament.

5. NOTRE DAME

Reason for optimism: Luke Harangody is all-in, and he has a fine point guard to feed him in Tory Jackson. Plus Ben Hansbrough, brother of Tyler, becomes eligible after transferring from Mississippi State. That’s a nice trio right there.

Reason for pessimism: They couldn’t/wouldn’t defend a tomato can last year. Will that change?

Hoops Haven’s early line: NCAA Tournament.

6. SETON HALL

Reason for optimism: The most talent in the program since Andre Barrett moved on. Every position is stocked. Jeremy Hazell is a Big East Player of the Year candidate.

Reason for pessimism: Blending in three impact transfers could be tricky. The non-conference schedule needs major beefing up and time is running out.

Hoops Haven’s early line: Should make the Dance unless a weak schedule drags them down.

Reason for pessimism: Jonny Flynn is gone, and the guy was a monster. Paul Harris and Eric Devendorf could play too, but Jim Boeheim couldn’t take the headaches. That’s a lot of talent out the door.

Hoops Haven’s early line: Should find a way into the Dance.

8. PITTSBURGH

Reason for optimism: Enough role players return for the Panthers to remain competitive, and a newcomer always seems to step up in this program. Like the Cuse, it’s hard to imagine a bad Pitt team.

Reason for pessimism: Some rebuilding is in order after losing a trio like DeJuan Blair, Levance Fields and Sam Young.

Hoops Haven’s early line: Bubble material.

9. ST. JOHN’S

Reason for optimism: Everybody who matters is back from a team that showed flashes last year. D.J. Kennedy and Paris Horne have go-to potential. Anthony Mason Jr. returns from a medical redshirt.

Reason for pessimism: Are there any Johnnies fans left? Enthusiasm surrounding the program is at its lowest ebb, and that won’t help them win white-knuckle home games.

Hoops Haven’s early line: Bubble material.

10. GEORGETOWN

Reason for optimism: Uber-talented forward Greg Monroe decided to return to school; he and his young teammates will have a better grasp of the league’s rigors.

Reason for pessimism: The coach and players were on different pages last season, and the offense swooned. Also, there are no seniors on the roster after forward DaJuan Summers bolted for the NBA Draft.

Hoops Haven’s Early Line: NIT.

11. CINCINNATI

Reason for optimism: Deonta Vaughn and Yancy Gates will be one of the league’s top inside-outside combos, and much of the rest of the cast returns.

Reason for pessimism: The Bearcats stumbled offstage last season, closing with losses to South Florida and DePaul. Was that a blip or a taste of things to come?

Reason for pessimism: Losing three four-year guards is a roundhouse to the gut. And the jury is out on Buzz Williams.

Hoops Haven’s early line: No legitimate postseason.

13. RUTGERS

Reason for optimism: There is talent here. Mike Rosario, Greg Echenique, Corey Chandler, Jonathan Mitchell—these are guys other Big East coaches wouldn’t mind having in their lineup.

Reason for pessimism: No Big East-caliber point guard. Big, big problem. Plus, after eight league wins in three years, the program has to crawl before it can walk.

Hoops Haven’s early line: No postseason unless a point guard materializes.

14. PROVIDENCE

Reason for optimism: A seasoned point guard in Sharaud Curry and a rising young coach in Keno Davis.

Reason for pessimism: They lost five seniors who did just about everything except run the point. Their recruiting class is bountiful but lacks a sure impact player. Looks like a total rebuilding job.

Hoops Haven’s early line: No postseason.

15. SOUTH FLORIDA

Reason for optimism: Stan Heath seems to have things moving in the right direction, and he has solid building blocks in guard Dominique Jones and big man Gus Gilchrist.

Reason for pessimism: This is South Florida. Until proven otherwise, they will project among the league’s dregs.

Hoops Haven’s early line: No postseason.

16. DEPAUL

Reason for optimism: Sturdy big man Mac Koshwal withdrew his name from the NBA Draft.

Reason for pessimism: Program is in shambles. Head coach Jerry Wainwright was rendered a lame-duck by his administration. High-scoring guard Dar Tucker threw away his eligibility by signing with an agent. Other than that Mrs. Lincoln . . .

It’s been a productive summer already for Rutgers guard Mike Rosario, who was named to the World Juniors All-Tournament team: Averaged 20 points per game for Puerto Rico. HOOPS HAVEN SAYS: Good learning experience for Mike.

Luke Harangody is coming back to Notre Dame. Here’s the story from the South Bend Tribune: Big boost for Irish. HOOPS HAVEN SAYS: Smart move.

At Seton Hall, Sister Paula Buley is stepping down as executive vice president for administration. Law school dean Patrick Hobbs will fill in as the liaison between athletics and the big brass. HOOPS HAVEN SAYS: A positive for the Pirates.

Here’s an ESPN.com rundown of who’s in the draft and who’s on the fence. Looks like Rahway/Plainfield product Earl Clark is projected to go in the 10-15 range of the first round: Latest draft projections

Jim Calhoun is out of the hospital after breaking several ribs in a charity bike ride accident (for the record, he finished the ride): One tough cookie

CHECK BACK HERE later today, after Harangody makes his decision, for Hoops Haven’s “early line” Big East rankings for the 2009-10 season . . .

HOOPS HAVEN SAYS: On Monday night, after Harangody makes his decision, we’ll have our first-glance Big East power rankings for the 2009-10 season.

REMEMBER MIKE GORDON? The scrappy guard who led Plainfield to the 2004 Group IV final? After a fine career at Binghamton, Mike is headed to Germany next month to play professionally. We caught up with Mike this week and will have a feature on him soon in the Courier News.

ALSO: This has been appeared in The Record and on piratecrew.com, but in case you didn’t see it: administrative assistant Rod Rhodes is leaving Seton Hall for a full assistant’s job at Texas-Pan American.

THE BAD: FDU continued its hardwood charade by replacing ousted longtime coach Tom Green with assistant Greg “Shoes” Vetrone on an interim basis. Link: That was quick. HOOPS HAVEN SAYS: Our contacts close to the FDU program are stunned. I mean, kick Tom Green to the curb for this?

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About the Author

Jerry Carino has covered sports for the Gannett New Jersey newspapers since 1996 and has been on the college basketball beat since 2003. A native of Old Bridge, he also teaches journalism at Kean University.Email Jerry.